I'm thinking avout diving into an Epic 60 package minus the sub, my question is i've heard they can be bright with some receivers, will a Yamaha 7 x 100 (probably 70 x7 watts in real life)be a good match (sound wise)?? Will it have enough power to drive this system well in a 14'x18'x9' room??, or will i need external amps to make it shine? This system is 95% home theater and xbox 360.

Axioms are not bright no matter what some AVSforum members will tell you.. Also, solid state receivers are designed to have a flat frequency response from 20hz - 20khz, so they won't make speakers sound bright. Now, if you have some special DSP or tone controls turned on in the receiver to alter the original sound, that could change the outcome.

That Yamaha will do just fine, Axiom speakers are very efficient and require very little wattage to drive to loud levels. In most situations your only going to be using 1-2 watts anyway.

Randy pretty much covered it. The source material maybe poorly recorded and thus sound bright/hollow/edgy, when you get a good recording playing through them they shine no matter what avr you have hooked up to them. The best part about Axioms is that you don't have to crank them up to hear the detail they offer. It seems many people prefer a more laid back sound with the highs, and to my ears vocals, a little more withdrawn from the music, Axioms play all the frequencies equally so you hear them more.

As Sirquack pointed out, I am a member of AVS. That's how i founds this website. And that's why i bought a Yamaha, Not the best of course, but it has been a solid receiver so far pushing my low budget paradigm Focus mains and 270 center. I've been curious about the M80's vs the 60, the 80 seem to be preferred here, does anyone know if Yamahas are ok with the 4 ohm load??

I really want a front stage that's in your face but clear and audible, i hate asking "what did he say" during a movie, I'm currently installing accoustic panels which should help alot. I'm looking for that movie theater sound, strong, audible, and in your face. my paradigms just aren't doing it.

In reality, any decent receiver should be able to drive a 4 ohm speaker, the receiver does not know what type of speaker it is hooked up to...the main issue is to what levels you drive the receiver before it protects itself because of the current draw.

Historically, Axiom has not recommended Yamaha in the past because of testing and shut down issues in lab tests. I think the newer models might have better luck.

Which Yammie do you have? The 1800 and up seem to work well with 4 ohm loads from what I have seen.

The Axioms can do that, in your face feel, and the M60's are a great speaker, most of us have just come to the conclusion we get upgradeitis way to easily so we went for the M80s as the first or second Axiom purchase. I had the M60s for audition but I found them to lack the forwardness of my M22s(which appear to be more forward than the present M22v2) the M80s were a closer match so I ended up with them. You could always do as I did and try the M60s and if they are not what you are looking for return them and try the M80s, this 'upgrade' is free shipping as well, you only pay the price difference between the M60 and M80.

You may also want to check the Hearing things section to see if there is anybody nearby that could give you an audition.

The receiver is a HTR-5860, it's about 3 years old, it's a pretty heavy reciever, with a beefy amp for a low budget Home Theater. I think i remebemer the specs sheet having a lower ohm rating than eight on the front channel, but i'd trust real world result more than a spec sheet.

CDY, welcome. You appear to have picked up a few audio mythologies elsewhere on the internet. The Axioms aren't "bright"; it's the recording being accurately reproduced which may be. Neither the Yamaha nor any other competently designed receiver will add a sonic character of its own when operated within its designed power limits, so there's no need to be looking for a "match". The Yamaha will in fact provide at least the rated 100 watts in "real life", otherwise it would be in violation of the FTC amplifier power regulations. This should be ample in most cases in your size room, depending on the average sound level that you employ and the dynamic range of the program material. Unused maximum amplifier capacity can't make a speaker "shine".